Spartans off to positive take-off

Mqabba 1
Hamrun 2

Two quick goals midway through the first half proved to be enough for Hamrun Spartans to mark their return to the Premier League with a precious victory after edging past the other promoted side Mqabba at the National Stadium.

The Spartans looked heading for a comfortable victory after dominating the early exchanges and surging into a two-goal lead before the half-hour mark. However, they almost paid dearly for their profligacy in front of goal as Mqabba pulled one back before half-time and threatened to equalise on more than one occasion.

Mqabba's goal brought the jitters to the Hamrun players who looked nervous and should consider themselves lucky to have held on for the points as Mqabba went agonisingly close to score again as they had an effort coming off the woodwork and a goal disallowed for offside.

There was a sizable crowd present for the first two matches of the season even though the fans at Ta' Qali had to follow proceedings unprotected in the scorching heat from the uncovered Millennium Stand as works at the enclosure area have yet to be completed.

Hamrun had to make do without three key players yesterday.

Nigerian defender Precious Monye failed to recover from a muscle strain. Kevin Borg is still nursing a knee injury while striker Gaetan Spiteri was suspended.

Mqabba, on their part, fielded their strongest formation with Brazilian trio Italo Nogueira, Fabio Silva and Marcelo Pereira making their first appearance for the club alongside defender Clifford Gatt Baldacchino and midfielders Claudio Calleja and Dylan Zarb.

The Spartans made all the early running and after six minutes Alfred Effiong came close to putting them ahead when he was first to a Ryan Fenech corner but headed over from routine distance.

On 14 minutes, Sultana should have done better when he was put through inside the Mqabba box by Steve Meilak but the veteran forward fluffed his shot.

The Spartans' pressure paid off on 20 minutes. Sultana was on the right spot to meet an Effiong cross before releasing Evano Briffa who hit an unstoppable drive past Mqabba goalkeeper Kris Calleja.

Mqabba almost hit back on 25 minutes. Marlon Briffa evaded two Spartans defender in a swift break and served the unmarked Jean Paul Muscat who saw his shot blocked to a corner.

However, it was Hamrun who doubled their advantage on 29 minutes.

Effiong laid the ball invitingly into the path of Sultana, who, spotting Calleja out of his goal, lobbed the ball masterfully into the net.

Sultana's goal stunned Mqabba. Marlon Briffa tried to revive his team's hopes but his cross-shot was deflected just wide.

Hamrun continued to show the better ideas and on 43 minutes Meilak exchanged the ball with Sultana but his shot was parried away by Calleja.

Then, Meilak's cross was controlled by Briffa whose shot took a deflection off Sultana but the ball hit the upright. Effiong was first to the rebound but Gatt Baldacchino cleared in time.

Mqabba put their name on the scoresheet in time added on when Gatt Baldacchino had the better of Falzon with an audacious lob from outside the box to re-open the match.

The Spartans tried to regain the upperhand at the start of the second half. On 52 minutes Effiong forced his way past two defenders but shot just over.

At the other end, the woodwork denied Mqabba an equaliser on the hour when Muscat's fierce drive had the better of Falzon but the ball came off the post.

The Spartans were growing more nervous now as Mqabba came more into the picture. Fifteen minutes from time Muscat fired the ball past Falzon but the goal was annulled as the Mqabba forward was in an offside position.

A minute later Calleja earned a good round of applause after turning splendidly to corner a Meilak shot.

The match lost most of its intensity in the final 15 minutes, probably due to the excessive heat, as both sets of players were showing signs of fatigue.

Effiong should have settled the Spartans' nerves in time added on when he burst through but his effort failed to hit the target.

However, it was not long before the Reds could start to celebrate their first win of the season as a few seconds later the referee sounded the final whistle.

Mqabba: K. Calleja-6, M. Bonnici-5.5 ('46 M.A. Psaila-5), A. Busuttil-6, I. Nogueira-6, M. Briffa-7.5, F. Silva-7, M. Pereira-6, C. Calleja-6, J.P. Muscat-6 ('77 M. Cocks), C. Gatt Baldacchino-7 ('74 L. Galea), D. Zarb-6.5.

Hamrun: M. Falzon-5.5, A. Attard-6, E. Briffa-6.5, Roderick Fenech-6.5, S. Meilak-7, Ryan Fenech-6, S. Sultana-6.5 ('84 D. Cucciardi), J. Debattista-6, R. Mangion-7, B. Timotic-6, A. Effiong-6.

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Scorers: Briffa 20; Sultana 29; Gatt Baldac-chino 45.

Yellow Cards: Debattista, Busuttil, Attard.

BoV Player of the Match: Marlon Briffa (Mqabba).

Playing today

Sliema W. vs Msida St Joseph - 18.00

Valletta vs Floriana - 20.00